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A New British Telemark Champion! A product of SSE Nordic Coaching!
World Cup Telemark Racing Report
An historic event in British winter sports took place in Rauris, Austria this January. Between 11th and 12th of January, the British Army organized and ran the opening event for the 2010 World Cup Telemark series, marking the first occasion that Britain has run a FIS World Cup ski event. 19 female and 49 male racers competed, from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Finland and Great Britain.
The Telemark Giant Slalom races and the Telemark Sprint races that were watched by an enthusiastic crowd were spectacular! Most of the courses were in sight of the finish area so, having cleared a demanding hillside of GS gates, racers executed huge jumps in clear view of the spectators, often recovering their balance from outrageous landings. In the Sprint Classic Chris Stewart from the GB Telemark team was one of only 9 competitors to reach the distance line for this jump and stand up! The Sprint courses included negotiating gates, the jump and the exciting 360° turn, or rappelojke (Rap for short) and a finale of a gruelling 150 metres of cross-country skating to the finish line! The results for each race reflect two runs down the course, with the combined times corrected by the addition of any penalties.
International competition is strong, but the GB team managed creditable results in this opening event. Overall, winners for the women's and men's Telemark GS were Amelie Reymond (FRA - 2:16.84) and Chris Lau (FRA - 2:04.80), while the Telemark Sprint winners were Amelie Reymond (FRA - 2:25.23) and Eirik Rykhus (NOR - 2:11.96).
World Cup GB team results:
Telemark Giant Slalom - Men: 29th - Chris Stewart (2:37.97), 32nd - Huan Davies (2:49.16), 33rd - Andrew Clarke (2:49.51), 34th - Matthew Turner (2:56.37), 35th - Mark Murray (3:03.87).
DNF - Chris Wooton, Richard Parrott, Phil Maddox.
Telemark Giant Slalom - Women: 14th - Sarah Hannibal (2:47.19)
Telemark Sprint - Men: 26th - Chris Stewart (2:50.59), 28th - Chris Wooton (2:50.59), 29th - Phil Maddox (2:51.66), 30th - Huan Davies (2:53.27), 31st - Andrew Clarke (2:56.73), 32nd - Matthew Turner (2:59.03), 34th - Richard Parrott (3:12.62).
DNF - Mark Murray.
Telemark Sprint - Women: 18th - Sarah Hannibal (3:29.92)
So this World Cup Event in Rauris was a landmark success for Britain. This was the first time Britain have hosted and organized a World Cup skiing event. The event was effectively and efficiently promoted and run by the British Army Telemark Association.
The Best of British!
The great news for Snowsport England is that this year’s ‘British Telemark Champion’ is Chris Stewart, a product of SSE coaching and member of the thriving Manchester X Country Club. 21yr old Chris consolidated his performances in the World Cup and went on to become overall ‘British Champion’ competing in three events at the end of the same week in January again organised by the British Army Telemark Association. The events comprised a GS on the 14th Jan, a Sprint Classic on the 15th Jan and then the Classic on the 17th Jan. Chris won both the Sprint Classic and the Classic and the combined overall result clearly established Chris as this years 'British Champion'.
Chris has benefited from SSE’s top Nordic Coaches from within Manchester X Country club and from Patrick Winterton and Mike Dixon (both ex Olympians and British Team members). Patrick and Mike both gave Chris a sound foundation in jumping and skating techniques over a number of years and in particular during the SSE Nordic events held in Britain and in Norway. Chris now instructs Alpine and Telemark skiing at the Manchester Chillfactore and is hoping his success will encourage other young skiers to take up Telemarking and X-Country skiing.
Telemark Ski Racing makes a great spectator sport. The discipline is characterised by the Telemark turn and, at this elite level, by the skill and dynamic versatility of the competitors. Telemark ski equipment is virtually identical to Alpine skiing equipment with the unique difference of having a ‘free heel’ (only fixed at the toe unlike Alpine bindings fixed at toe and heel). This free heel allows the skier more freedom and the opportunity to perform the ‘Telemark’ turn, an impressive aesthetic, dynamic and functional turn. Telemarking is making a comeback in the Snowsport World and official bodies are hoping for Olympic recognition for 2014.
For more information on Telemarking contact your local Nordic X Country Club and look at the links related to SSE Nordic courses run in Britain and Norway.
Report compiled by Andy Stewart SSE Senior Nordic Coach, January 2010. | 
